Looking at the five in front of me, I can tell that they are confused.

I wouldn't blame them.

After all, they have no idea what just happened.

How could they have known that I am a Leviathan who can easily spot a Magivore, cloaked or not, just from their existence alone? In fact, I already noticed the Manticore the first time I entered this place to investigate.

Yes… That's right.

This isn't my first time entering this secret underground room.

I only pretended like it was to suit my narrative and also lower their guard against me.

The first time I entered, I was using Frontflow, and I also consumed a Potion that erased my presence. Using the two of them at once meant I was practically invisible to the six who seemed to have already been waiting for me.

Not shocking at all.

I already suspected that there would be hidden monitors around, so it's no surprise that they realized I was invading and thus decided to wait in ambush.

In fact, before I used Frontflow to enter this place, I already used Clairvoyance—just in case—and scouted the interior thoroughly. Of course, that meant waiting an hour to switch to Clairvoyance, and waiting another hour to switch back, but considering my safety… it was worth it.

Using Aego Sight, I was able to easily spot the Manticore, as well as all the Armaments and Potions that my adversaries had in store for me.

The Knight-looking man had a B Grade Armament, which means he was either a Royal Knight or managed to get it through illegal means. I also noticed the Grade 4 Potion of the burly brute, as well as the others in his possession.

Naturally, I took note of all the Special Resources that the ebony man had in his possession.

'He must be a Shaman…' I almost immediately thought.

With Clairvoyance, I got an overview of the place and the abilities of my adversaries.

But it wasn't enough.

After waiting an hour, I used Frontflow to replace my Minute Layer with my Hour Layer, giving me sixty minutes in the place of one. Alongside my Potion of Phantasmal Veil, which grants weak invisibility, I sneaked in and investigated more thoroughly.

To them, only a minute passed, but I actually spent an hour investigating that room.

I tried to control the Manticore during that period, but I felt no resonance. I figured it was either because I was in Frontflow or due to interference from the Druid in the group.

It wasn't difficult to realize that the obese woman was the Druid after noticing the equipment of the others and their arrangements. I also thoroughly searched every single person in the room and took a good look at the materials at their disposal.

I won't lie… they intimidated me a little.

These six were certainly prepared, and I could tell they had no intention of underestimating me.

To appreciate their resolve, I decided to set up a few of my Expenditure Type Armaments around the room—just in case I would need them.

I was tempted to confiscate their weapons and Potions, just to be safe, but that would defeat the purpose of my secret investigation, so I let them keep them. I also guessed a few formations that they would take, just based on what they looked like.

The burly man appears to be the brute of the team, so I figured he would take the frontal assault.

The Knight appears very competent, and his Armaments appear very dangerous, so he would be the best to block off my escape. The thin scholar-looking man has a great deal of Potions on him, and the veil-covered woman has a lot of Armaments—mostly Expenditure-types—on her. I reckoned they would cover my flanks and use their versatility to limit my mobility.

This would, of course, be the initial plan.

The most basic one.

It's predictable, but also highly effective. I would do the same if I were in their shoes.

I figured they would have more plans and tricks at their disposal, especially with the existence of that Manticore.

I couldn't take any chances, so I would have to be very careful.

Preparing my traps was one thing, but also predicting their series of moves was another. I already know I have the advantage, but I won't make the mistake of being careless.

And so, after all my preparations, I left the room.

Then, once another hour passed, and I recuperated appropriately, even taking all three of my Grade 3 nutritional Potions again—just in case—I returned to the underground room.

Just as I predicted, they went with the most effective plan first.

I had to keep my eye out for the Manticore on the ceiling, and even though I tried to control it again, using a few words and mental cues, it still didn't budge.

I guess I can't control Magivores that are under the control of another.

But who would have expected my luck?

One of the six—the brute in particular—actually had a Beast Transformation Potion!

He transformed into a Magivore Hybrid!

I have actually been curious for the longest time if I could control one with my powers, and after testing it out, I realized that I could. Of course, this was only after I killed the Royal Knight and Manticore to ensure my immediate safety.

They were the greatest threats in the room, after all.

With the Magivore hybrid under my control, the Manticore removed, and one of the six now dead, the remaining four must now recognize how powerful I am.

It's time…

"I will ask you again… who can answer my questions here? If you do, I'll spare your lives."

They all tremble the moment I ask this.

I already know that Dark Guild members have to drink a poisonous Potion before beginning their mission or even joining the Guild. If they fail or are captured by the enemy, the Potion's lethality activates, and they die.

As a result, they are unable to spill the secrets of the organization to a third party.

But I don't know many details about this mysterious Potion.

I still don't know how the Potion is able to notice when someone has failed or has been captured, and to date, no one has been able to replicate the effects of this Potion or derive its formula.

Right now, there is silence in the room.

Chances are high that everyone here drank the Potion, hence they cannot spill the Guild's secrets.

They could also be pretending.

Who knows?

'Well… there's one way to find out…' I glance at the Magivore hybrid kneeling before me, and a small smile forms on my face almost immediately. "Tell me everything you know about the leadership of the Dark Guild. Who do you work for? Is this your headquarters? Who are your superiors?"

I sense some resistance from him, most likely due to his human side.

But it's no use.

Right now, I can clearly detect his existence with my Aego Sight. His Magivore part has mostly taken over his human side. Until the Potion's effects run out, he is mostly a Magivore, and by instinct, these creatures obey me.

As long as I have sufficient mental power and concentration, it appears I can also control a Cadre 4 Magivore with little to no difficulty.

So spill…

"W-we… have a Boss, the leader of the Randalorion Kingdom branch of the Dark Guild… b-but we've never seen his face. He shows up sometimes, but we usually only contact him through his proxy. However… he hasn't been in contact for a while… t-that's why we decided to meet today. W-we all work directly for him, though he usually communicates through his proxy. This is indeed… our headquarters. And… and… and…"

I can see the hybrid begin to shake, almost like he's experiencing a manic episode.

It must be the effect of the Dark Guild's Potion.

'But it isn't killing him instantly. I'm guessing that's because of his part Magivore constitution at the moment. Maybe I can ask more questions!'

"Who is this proxy?"

"C-Count… urgh!" Before he can speak, he vomits a small puddle of blood before falling to the ground, dying on the spot.

'Damnit…'

My brows furrow mildly, and I feel a pang of annoyance.

I was so close.

My biggest suspicion is that this Boss is Zarius.

But what about the Proxy?

'Also, did he say Count? Does that mean it's Count Kaelen Thornvale?' A dark sparkle explodes in my eye, and I feel something tighten in my chest. 'No… I can't jump to conclusions just yet. I need something more definite.'

Maybe they have some kind of secret library… or underground information room.

If I can find those records, I'll be able to learn more, even without requiring the testimony of these people. But how can I find the records without their help? Discovering this hidden room required a lot of effort already, and I might never find the place I'm looking for in time, considering how massive this fortress is.

Right as I am deep in thought, a female voice echoes in the air and breaks me out of it.

"C-can I ask you something?"

"Hm?"

I glance to my side and notice the veiled woman staring at me with deep curiosity mixed with dread, as though I am a strange specimen she wishes to study, yet she is terrified of me at the same time.

"Go ahead," I respond curtly.

'Maybe I can glean some information from her question…'

"How did you find this place? We set up multiple barriers and, no… that isn't even important. If you used Divination, it wouldn't matter… but I set up a perfect Anti Divination field in this place. How were you able to bypass it? Also… why did my Divination not work on you?" Her words flow freely like water, and her gaze rests sharply on me.

She must be quite troubled.

I would be too.

'So there was Anti Divination here, huh? No surprise…' I smile to myself. 'But that doesn't affect Clairvoyance, so it posed no challenge to me.'

As for her use of Divination, that's quite a shocking revelation.

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